Dispensing device having a rotor for metering a material into a fluid stream

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device having a rotor projecting into and rotatable by a fluid stream for metering a material into such fluid stream. The rotor is exposed to the desired material in a reservoir and, upon rotation of the rotor by the fluid stream, serves to transfer the material from the reservoir to the fluid stream. A lock screw is provided for preventing such transfer when metering of the material is not desired.

United States Patent 11 1 Butler DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING A ROTOR FOR METERING A MATERIAL INTO A FLUID STREAM [76] Inventor: William R. Butler, 1401 N. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev. 89108 221 Filed: May 10,1974

2| Appl.No.:468,928

[52] U.S. CL... 222/193; 239/310 [51] Int. Cl. BOSb 7/28 [58] Field of Search 222/1292, 145, 190, 193, 222/414; 239/310, 313, 315,316; 118/259;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,240,393 3/1966 Vablonski 222/94 3,797,708 3/1974 Sypal 222/193 (4 1 July 1,1975

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 885,029 11/1971 Canada 261/192 Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Larry H. Martin Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarris, Kern, Wallen & Tinsley [5 7 ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING A ROTOR FOR METERING A MATERIAL INTO A FLUID STREAM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to metering devices and, more particularly, to a device for metering a material into a fluid stream.

The invention will be considered herein in a generalized environment for convenience since it is susceptible of incorporation in a wide variety of specific embodiments. For example, the invention may be incorporated in such things as: a bathtub fixture for metering a bath oil, a bubble bath solution, or the like, into a stream of water flowing through the fixture to a bathtub; a sink fixture for dispensing a detergent, or the like, into a stream of water flowing into a sink; a shower head fixture for dispensing a soap or detergent solution, or the like, into the water discharged from a shower head; a unit connectible to a garden hose for metering insecticides, fertilizers, or the like, into a stream of water flowing through the unit to a spray head, or the like; and so forth.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION A general object of the invention is to provide a very simply and effective device for dispensing any material into a fluid stream in metered quantities.

More particularly, the invention may be summarized as including, and an important object is to provide a metering device which includes: a reservoir for the material; passage means for the fluid stream adjacent the reservoir; means separating the passage means from the reservoir and having a connecting passage therethrough between the passage means and the reservoir; a rotor in the connecting passage and projecting into the passage means and exposed to the material in the reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through the passage means to transfer the material from the reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through the passage means; and means for substantially preventing flow through the connecting passage from the reservoir to the passage means when metering of the material is not desired.

The invention may be further summarized as including, and another important object of the invention is to provide a metering device which includes: a reservoir for the material; passage means for the fluid stream adjacent the reservoir; a wall separating the passage means from the reservoir and having an aperture therethrough; a rotor in the aperture and projecting into the passage means and exposed to the material in the reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through the passage means to transfer the material from the reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through the passage means; and means for substantially preventing flow through the aperture from the reservoir to the passage means when metering of the material is not desired.

A further object is to provide a metering device of the nature described in the preceding paragraph wherein the rotor is a ball and the aperture is complementary to the ball to serve as a cage therefor.

Still another object is to provide a metering device wherein the flow preventing means comprises means for preventing rotation of the ball.

It will be understood that, with the foregoing construction, the ball, as it is rotated by the fluid stream,

transfers the material from the reservoir to the fluid stream in much the same manner as the ball of a ball point pen transfers ink from the ink reservoir to the paper over which the ball moves. Alternatively, the action is much like that of a ball-type deodorant applicator, wherein the ball rotates to transfer a deodorant from a reservoir to the skin of the user.

The foregoing objects, advantages, results and features of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the dispensing art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a ball-type metering device of the invention and is taken as indicated by the arrowed line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a cylinder-type metering device of the invention and is taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3--3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a paddle-wheel-type metering device of the invention and is taken as indicated by the arrowed line 55 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION, FIGS. I AND 2 Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a metering device 10 which includes a housing 12 having any suitable configuration, depending on the specific use to which the metering device is to be put, as hereinbefore outlined.

The housing 12 is provided therein with a reservoir 14 for the material to be metered, which material will normally be liquid, and preferably a relatively viscous liquid. The material to be metered may be introduced into the reservoir 14 through a filling opening 16.

Extending through the housing I2 adjacent the reservoir 14, but spaced therefrom, is a passage means 18 forming a fluid stream into which the material in the reservoir 14 is to be dispensed. The housing 12 provides wall means 20 separating the reservoir 14 from the passage means 18.

The wall means 20 has a connecting passage 22 therethrough which interconnects the passage means 18 and the reservoir 14. In the connecting passage 22 is a rotor 24 which projects into the passage means 18 and is exposed to the material in the reservoir 14. The rotor 24 is rotatable by the fluid stream flowing through the passage means 18 to transfer a material from the reservoir 14 to the fluid stream flowing through the passage means.

In the particular construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotor 24 is simply a ball of any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, or the like, and the connecting passage 22 is simply a complementary aperture in the wall or wall means 20. The complementary aper ture forming the connecting passage 22 thus serves as a cage for the ball.

As will be apparent, the fluid stream flowing through the passage means 18 acts frictionally on the ball 24 to rotate same, thereby causing the ball to transfer material from the reservoir 14 to the fluid stream, in much the same manner as the ball of a ball-point pen transfers ink from the reservoir of the pen to the paper, or other material, over which the ball is rolled by frictional engagement therewith.

If it is desired to substantially stop the transfer of the material in the reservoir 14 to the fluid stream, rotation of the ball 24 is prevented by a screw 26 threaded into the housing 12 and engageable with the ball 24. Rotation of the ball 24 is thus prevented, thereby substantially preventing transfer of material from the reservoir 14 to the fluid stream, the clearance between the ball 24 and its cage being small enough, and the viscosity of the material in the reservoir 14 being high enough, to virtually eliminate any transfer of material when the ball 24 is locked.

Thus, the device 10 provides a very simple and accurate metering means for transferring the material from the reservoir 14 to a fluid stream flowing through the passage means 18.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODI- MENT OF INVENTION, FIGS. 3 AND4 Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a metering device 110 which is basically identical to the metering device 10. Consequently, the various components of the metering device 110 will be identified by reference numerals higher by one hundred than those used for corresponding components of the metering device 10.

The metering device 110 differs primarily in that the rotor I24 in the connecting passage 122 is a cylinder mounted on spindles 125, the connecting passage again being complementary.

The metering device 110 operates in substantially the same way as the metering device 10, rotation of the cylinder I24 serving to transfer material from the reser voir 114 to the fluid stream flowing through the passage means 118. Metering is prevented by the lock screw 126.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION, FIGS. 5 AND 6 Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing is a metering device 210 which is similar to the metering devices 10 and 110. The various components of the metering device 210 will be identified by reference numerals higher by 200 than those used for corresponding components for the metering device 10.

In the metering device 210, the rotor 224 is a fluted cylinder, the longitudinal flutes having the effect of paddle wheels to increase the effect of the fluid stream flowing through the passage means 218, and to increase the transfer of material from the reservoir 214 to the fluid stream.

In the particular construction illustrated, the connecting passage 222 comprises an aperture 228 through the wall means 220, a small chamber 230 adjacent the periphery of the fluted cylinder 224 on the side opposite the passage means 218, and a port 232 leading from the chamber 230 into the reservoir 214. Metering is prevented by a needle valve 234 carried by the housing 212 and seatable in the port 232.

Of course, if desired, metering can be prevented by means of a lock screw, not shown, similar to the lock screws 26 and 126.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that the invention may be incorporated in various other embodiments suitable for a wide variety of applications, and that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the emgodiments specifically disclosed, all without departing from the invention defined by the claims appearing hereinafter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for metering a material into a fluid stream, the combination of:

a. a reservoir for the material;

b. passage means for the fluid stream adjacent said reservoir;

c. means separating said passage means from said reservoir and having a connecting passage therethrough between said passage means and said reservoir;

d. a rotor in said connecting passage and having a generally arcuate surface projecting into said passage means and exposed to the material in said reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through said passage means to transfer the material from said reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through said passage means, said connecting passage being complementary to and partially housing said rotor and having at least one arcuate wall conforming to and in close proximity to said arcuate surface of said rotor; and

e. means for substantially preventing flow through said connecting passage from said reservoir to said passage means when metering of the material is not desired.

2. A metering device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor is a ball.

3. A metering device according to claim 2 wherein said flow preventing means comprises means for preventing rotation of said ball.

4. In a device for metering a material into a fluid stream, the combination of:

a. a reservoir for the material;

b. passage means for the fluid stream adjacent said reservoir;

c. a wall separating said passage means from said reservoir and having an aperture therethrough',

d, a rotor in said aperture and having a generally arcuate surface projecting into said passage means and exposed to the material in said reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through said passage means to transfer the material from said reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through said passage means, said aperture being complementary to and partially housing said rotor and having at least one arcuate wall conforming to and in close proximity to said arcuate surface of said rotor; and

e. means for substantially preventing flow through said aperture from said reservoir to said passage means when metering of the material is not desired.

5. A metering device as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotor is a ball and said aperture has a plurality of said arcuate walls complementary to said ball to serve as a cage therefor.

6. A metering device according to claim 5 wherein said flow preventing means comprises means for preventing rotation of said ball.

* II! i 

1. In a device for metering a material into a fluid stream, the combination of: a. a reservoir for the material; b. passage means for the fluid stream adjacent said reservoir; c. means separating said passage means from said reservoir and having a connecting passage therethrough between said passage means and said reservoir; d. a rotor in said connecting passage and having a generally arcuate surface projecting into said passage means and exposed to the material in said reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through said passage means to transfer the material from said reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through said passage means, said connecting passage being complementary to and partially housing said rotor and having at least one arcuate wall conforming to and in close proximity to said arcuate surface of said rotor; and e. means for substantially preventing flow through said connecting passage from said reservoir to said passage means when meteriNg of the material is not desired.
 2. A metering device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor is a ball.
 3. A metering device according to claim 2 wherein said flow preventing means comprises means for preventing rotation of said ball.
 4. In a device for metering a material into a fluid stream, the combination of: a. a reservoir for the material; b. passage means for the fluid stream adjacent said reservoir; c. a wall separating said passage means from said reservoir and having an aperture therethrough; d. a rotor in said aperture and having a generally arcuate surface projecting into said passage means and exposed to the material in said reservoir and rotatable by a fluid stream flowing through said passage means to transfer the material from said reservoir to the fluid stream flowing through said passage means, said aperture being complementary to and partially housing said rotor and having at least one arcuate wall conforming to and in close proximity to said arcuate surface of said rotor; and e. means for substantially preventing flow through said aperture from said reservoir to said passage means when metering of the material is not desired.
 5. A metering device as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotor is a ball and said aperture has a plurality of said arcuate walls complementary to said ball to serve as a cage therefor.
 6. A metering device according to claim 5 wherein said flow preventing means comprises means for preventing rotation of said ball. 